Process of treating hydrocarbon oils



R. B. DAY. PROCESS OF TREATING HYDROCARBON OHS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1920.

Patented Dec.

1922 2 SHEETS- SHEET I.

R. B. DAY.

PROCESS OF TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS. APPLlCATlON FILED 0501.5. 1.920.

11 ,%87,932 Patented Dec. 5', 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

\ EXP VS/all Patented Dec. 5 11922,

htdi t z warren srares mesa-T orr'ie so ROLAND B. DAY, OF SWARTHIVIORE,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNDR T0 DAYS PETROLEUM PROCESS 00., INC, A CORPORATIONOF ARIZONA.

PROCESS OF '11REAMLING} HYDROCARBON OILS.

Application filed December 15, 1920. Serial No. 430,873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROLAND B. DAY, a citizenof the United States, residing at Swarthmore, in the county of Delawareand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Processes of Treating Hydrocarbon Oils, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to processes for producing hydrocarbon materialshaving low boiling points from hydrocarbon materials having high boilingpoints.

One object of the invention is to provide a process for cracking oils bywhich liquid oils are subjected to a continuous travelling and agitating.movementwithin a closed chamber under conditions which reduce to aminimum the possibility of carbon formation on the chamber walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process in which thereis a continuous travelling movement of the liquid oil from the cooler tothe warmer parts of the apparatus so that materials requiring a lowerdegree of heat may be cracked and likewise materials requiring a higherdegree of heat may be cracked by coming into contact with an increasingdegree of heat during travel through the apparatus.

One feature of the invention relates to the agitating and continuoustravelling movement of the oil which is effected by continuous rotationof a couveyo apparatus within tubes of a tubular retort and thecooperation of the conveyor apparatus with ball cleaner elements locatedwith n the tubular retort. The invention provides that the ball elementsmay be free to move, roll or tumble about during their passage throughthe retort tubes. l'Vlien oil and the metal balls have been used in suchtubes and propelled therethrough by screw conveyors. it has been foundthat substantially no carbon has been formed on the retort wall or onthe conveyor screw. The reason for the low percentage of carbonformation may be ascribed to various circumstances and conditions, butis at least in part due to the agitation, travelling movement andfrictional contact of the oil and freely movable metal balls within theretort tubes.

The process provides for a continuous movement of the oil through aseries of tubular conveyor retorts, the removal from the last retort,and the reintroduction of the Oil into the first retort of the series.

The process is preferably conducted in the apparatus illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the heating furnace illustrating theexterior drive shafts and showing the outlines of the tubular retorts indotted lines;

Figure 2 is a view illustrating the relative direction of rotation ofthe conveyor shafts looking in the direction of the furnace on thesection line 2-2 of Figure l; 1

Figure 3' 's a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of the arrow and showing the position of the retort tubes inthe furnace j and Figure 4 is a view of the retort tubes with thefurnace removed, illustrating the relative directional movement of thematerials within 'ihe tubes and the movement of the metal bal s.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the difierent figuresofthe drawings.

Referring in detail to the drawings of the apparatus which has been usedsatisfactorily in conducting the present invention, 1 represents themasonry construction, either concrete, stone or brick, but preferablytire brick, such as will stand severe temperatures. A suitable stack 2is provided for leading 01f the furnace fumes, smoke, and gases ofcombustion. A. source of heat is provided by burners 3 located at thelower part of the furnace and fed by suitable pipes 3 providing liquidor gaseous fuel. The furnace is braced by suitable buck stays 1 holdingthe same to a suitable masonry or concrete base. The flame and hot gasesfrom the burner nozzles is projected inwardly and passed up wardly inthe furnace. over a centrally positioned partition 4,anddownward toultimately escape through the stack 2. During .the upward movement theheat comes into nal boxes or stufiing boxes are indicated for therespective shafts at 5, 6, and 7. Materials within the tube 5 are passedto the left, referring to Figure 1 and are dropped through thecommunicating pipe 8 into the end of the tube 6, and similarly, such materials are passed in the opposite direction in the tube 6 and permittedto drop through the communicating pipe 9 to the lowermost tube 7, inwhich latter the materials are again moved to the left. The direction oftravel of the contents of the apparatus is indicated by arrows. Steelballs B are located between each of the flights of the conveyor screwsand are freely movable to roll or tumble during the passage of the oiland balls through the retort tubes, and move from the upper to the lowertube and by means of the elevator conveyor screw are lifted from thelowermost retort tube 7 and reintroduced into the up er tube 5. It isnecessary that the balls be of high heat conductivity and that theyresist the abrasive wear to which they are subjected by the action ofthe conveyor screw in moving them through the apparatus. The use ofsteel balls has proved of advantage over other known forms. Materialwhich will pulverize or abrade readily is undesirable because it willcombine with the liquid oil, and particularly with the heavier residuesthereof and adhere to the conveyor screw and tend to choke up the retorttubes. Steel balls have proved of advantage because of their long life,the cleaning action on the interior of the retort tubes and screws, andbecause they may roll and tumble within the retort tubes withoutjamming. Any kind of metal balls would probably exercise the necessarycleaning action, but steel balls combine the necessary hardness for longwear together with high heat conductivity.

Oil and steel balls B discharged from the left hand end of the tube 7drop downwardly through the communicating pipe 10 into the tube of theelevator conveyor shaft 11, which latter has a conveyor screw 11 mountedon a shaft 11 in a manner similar to the mounting of the conveyor screws5 6 and 7. A stuffing box 11 is also provided. At the lower end of theelevator conveyor screw tube 11 is a drain pipe 12 having a suitablevalve 12 and positioned substantially at the lowermost point of thesystem. Materials raised through the tube 11 are moved to a point nearthe end of the tube where they are permitted to drop downwardlv throughthe communicating pipe 13 into the extreme right hand end of theupperconveyor tube 5. from which point they are again passed through theapparatus.

At the top of the system of cracking and elevator tubes is positioned alarge reservoir for oil which serves as a combined preheating chamber,reservoir and expansion chamber. This chamber is indicated by numeral14, and is provided with an oil inlet pipe 14 for the admission ofuntreated oil which may be controlled by a suitable valve 149. A seriesof test drain spigots 14 are mounted on the chamber at differentelevations to determine the height of the oil therein. A pipe 15 at oneend of the chamber 1st leads downwardly from the floor of the chamber tothe cracking tube 5. At the other end of the chamber 14 is a pipe 16leading to the upper end of the conveyor tube 11. At the top of theexpansion chamber 14 are suitable pipe connections leading to necessarycondensers. At 17 is indicated a condenser line governed by a weightedvalve. At 18 is indicated another condenser pipe which may lead to areflux condenser, not shown. I

Drive means for driving the shafts 5 6 and 11 is provided by main driveshaft 19 mounted in suitable bearings 19, and driven by a pulley wheel20, which latter may be operated from any suitable source of power.Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that the shaft 19 movesclockwise and turns a sprocket gear 21, which in turn operates acontinuous chain 22, which latter extends over sprocket gears 11, 7 6and 5, which are mounted respectively on the conveyor shafts 11 7, 6 and5 The arrows in Figure 2 indicate the relative direction of rotation ofthe sprocket wheels and the conveyor shafts.

Because of the incline of the conveyor 0 shaft 11 it is necessary toprovide a universal joint in this shaft between the sprocket wheel 11and the stufiing box 11. This joint is indicated at 11 in Figure 1, andthe lower end of the shaft 11 is jour- 1 naled in a fixed bearing 11. Atthe upper end of the conveyor elevator tube 11 is a correspondinguniversal joint supported by a fixed bearing 11, mounted on a bracketsecured to the main furnace structure. A 110 second drive chain 22connects the opposite ends of the drive shaft 19 and the conveyor shafts5", 6", 7 and 11 The process has been satisfactorily conducted inapparatus like that described 115 above, in which the retort tubes 5, 6,7 and 11 were of siX inch bore, in which a conveyor screw five andthree-quarter inches was operated. In conducting the process in theabove described apparatus, oil is introduced into the expansion chamber14. through the pipe 14, and from this chamber it circulates downwardfilling up the different tubes and elevator tube of the system. When theconveyor screws are actuated the oil moves downwardly through the tubes,and at the same time is subjected to the continuous agitating movementcaused by the conveyor screw and the movement of the metal ballspropelled by the 'upper retort tube.

' aaaaeea screw. The blast of flame from the burners 3 provides atemperature in the lower retort hotter than the temperature of the upperretort. Thus, when a temperature of 1000 F. is present in the lowerretort, the temperature in the upper retort will probably be about 200F. less, or about 800 F. The process includes a temperature rangevarying from 550 F. to 750 F. at the upper retort, and from 800 F. to1000 F. for a maximum at the lower retort. The diderence in temperaturebetween the upper and lower tubes is accounted for in part by thedistance from the source of heat, and by the fact that fresh oil isintroduced into the This gradual heating has proved advantageous becauseevery particle of oil is at some time within its travel, subjected tothe degree of temperature best suited for cracking it. Materials havebeen successfully treated and remarkably large yields of crackedproducts obtained when a temperature of 850 F. was used in the lowerpart of the apparatus, and at a pressure of about 75 pounds per squareinch.

The process provides for the removal of heavy residues from the lowerpart of the apparatus through the pipe 12. This withdrawal may becontinuous or periodic. It is believed that the coke or carbon which isformed during the passage of the oil through the retort tubes is for themost part withdrawn with the waste residues. The apparatus has provedremarkably free from carbon deposits, and this may be ascribed in partto the cleaning action of the balls within the apparatus and to theirfreely movable rolling or tumbling movement which makes it possible forthem to engage the surface of the conveyor tube without travelling inany one fixed path. It is believed that the cooperation of the conveyorwith the balls, thus serving as dual agitating means, makes it possibleto bring a greater proportion of the oil intimately into contact withthe high heat conductivity of the balls, screw, and retort tube. Thisagitating movement in the oil is probably sufiicient to churn the oilupinto an emulsion which is more readily cracked during the passagethrough the apparatus. than ordinary oil would be it moving in a quietundisturbed flow.

What T claim is:

1. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original oil to a continuous agitating movement withinaclosed chamber, causing a conveyor member within said chamber to movesaid oil and to propel freely movable metallic elements through saidchamber, and subjecting said oil while in said chamber to a temperaturesufficient to efiiect cracking.

2. The process of producinghydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original oil to a continuous agitating movement within aclosed tubular chamber, causing a continuous movement of the oillengthwise of a chamber, causing a screw conveyor within said chamber tomove said oil and propel freely movable metallic balls lengthwise ofsaid tubular chamber in. contact with said oil, and subjecting thecontents of said tubular chamber to a temperature suliicient to efiectcracking.

3. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original oil to a continuous agitating movement within aclosed chamber, causing aconveyor member within said chamber to movesaid oil andto propel freely movable non-absorbent elements of high heatconductivity through said chamber, and subjecting said oil and freelymovable elements while in said chamher to a temperature sufficient toeffect cracking.

t. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original oil to a continuous agitating ,movement within aclosed series of communicating tubular chambers, causing a continuousmovement of the oil lengthwise of each chamber and progressively througheach chamber of the series, passing freely movable non-absorbentelements of high heat conductivity in contact with said oil andlengthwise of said chambers, and subjecting the contents of said seriesot chambers to a temperature sufficient to effect cracking.

5. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original oil to a continuous agitating movement within aclosed series of communicating tubular chambers, causing a continuousmovement of the oil lengthwise of each chamber and progressively througheach chamber of the series, passin metallic balls treeiy movable incontact with said oil and lengthwise of said chambers, and subjectingthe contents of said seriesot chambers to a temperature sufiicient toeffect cracking.

6. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisesubjecting the original oil to a continuous agitating movement within aclosed series of communicating tubular chan'ibers and to temperaturesufficient to effect cracking, causing a continuous movement of the oillengthwise of each chamber and progressively through each chamber of theseries, passing freely movable non-absorbent elements having high heatconductivity in contact with said oil, and lengthwise of said chambers,and subjecting the contents of said chambers to an increasing degree ofheat during movement of the oil through the successive chambersinvolving an increase in temperature of about 200 F. from the firstchamber of the series to the last chamber thereof.

7 The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original oil to a continuous agitating movement within aclosed series of communicating tubular chambers and to a temperaturesufiicient to effect cracking, causing a continuous movement of the oillengthwise of each chamber and progressively through each chamber of theseries, passing freely movable metallic balls in contact with said oil,and lengthwise of said chambers, and subjecting the contents of saidchambers'to an increasing degree of heat during movement of the oilthrough the successive chambers involving an increase in temperature ofabout 200 F. from the first chamber of the series to the last chamberthereof.

8. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original liquid oil to a continuous agitating movementwithin a closed tubular system, causing the oil to move through saidtubular system, moving freely movable metallic elements through said oiland lengthwise ofthe tubes of said system, subjecting the contentsof'said system to an increasing degree of heat ranging from at least 550F. at the point of introduction of the oil to an additional 200 F. atthe hottest point in said system.

9; The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisessubjecting the original liquid oil to a continuous agitating movementwithin a closed tubular system. causing the oil to move through saidtubular system, passing freely movable metal balls through saidoil andlengthwise of said system, and subjecting the contents of said system toan increasing degree of heat ranging from at least cracking temperatureat the point of introduction of the oil to an additional 200 F. at thehottest point in said system 10. The process of producing hydrocarbonoils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boilingpoints which comprises introducing oil to be treated into a series ofcommunicating horizontally arranged tubular screw conveyor retortspositioned in difi'erent levels, passing the oil and metallic ballsthrough each retort and progressively into and through each nextadjacent retort and thus subjecting the oil to a continuous agitatingand progressive move ment in contact with the constantly moving screwconveyor and balls, and subjecting the contents of said retorts to atemperature sufficientto efiect cracking.

11. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisesintroducing oil to be treated into a series of communicatinghorizontally arranged tubular screw conveyor retorts positioned indifferent levels, passing the oil and metallic balls through each retortand progressively into and through each next adjacent retort and thussubjecting the oil to a continuous agitating and progressive movement incontact with the constantly moving screw conveyor and balls, andsubjecting the contents of said system of tubular retorts to anincreasing degree of heat ranging from at least 550 F. at the retort inwhich the oil is introduced to an additional 200 F. at the last retortof said series.

12. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisesintroducing oil to be treated into a series of communicatinghorizontally arranged tubular screw conveyor retorts positioned indiiferent levels, passing the oil and metallic balls through each retortand progressively into and through each next adjacent retort and thussubjecting the oil to a continuous agitating and progressive movement incontact with the continuously moving screw conveyor and balls, passingthe oil and balls from the lowermost retort to the uppermost retort, andsubjecting the contents of said retorts to a heat sufiicient to efiectcracking.

13. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling pointsfrom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which comprisesintroducing oils to be treated into a series of communicatinghorizontally arranged tubular screw conveyor retorts positioned indifierent levels, passing the oil and metallic balls through each retortand progressively into and through each next adjacent retort and thussubjecting the oil to a continuous agitating and progressive move-ROLAND B. Mr.

